Meet Me Downtown Festival This Weekend In Boca

FAIRS & FESTS

At least, organizers of the 12th annual Meet Me Downtown festival hope it gives people the sense of community and neighborliness - despite the 150,000 draw.

The festival mixes jazz and nostalgia rock with about 360 arts and crafts booths, motorcycle and classic car exhibits and about 30 food booths at Mizner Park Friday through Sunday.

It started 12 years ago as a picnic in a park with 150 people and 10 artists. The Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce took it over three years ago and hired one of the founders, Lois Nieson, as its part-time coordinator. And the planning for the festival goes on year-round.

"We have a unique sense of community," said Wanda Thayer, the festival's honorary chairwoman. "It remains a Boca event. It has grown, but we have limited space."

Chamber officials say they plan to keep the festival close to its roots: For instance, it's free. "Really, the focus is bringing people to downtown Boca," said Christopher Holden, chamber director of operations for the festival. "We'll probably never charge admission."

Among the Saturday performers at the Mizner Park Amphi-theatre is Nestor Torres, Latin jazz artist from Miami who has performed at the festival before. A artist new to Meet Me Downtown is Tom Toyama, a vibraphonist also based in Miami. Four years ago, he was named the Performing Arts Community Education jazz artist of the year. He also performs Saturday.

For those who want rock and nostalgia, the festival will bring the 1960s band, the Association, and nostalgia band, the Fabulons, on Saturday night. For those who want a more Caribbean feel to their music, the All Stars Steel Band and Bobby and the Beachcombers perform on Sunday.

At Sanborn Square, several Boca Raton dance academies will show off their students' skills.

And strolling down the mall at Mizner Park will be street performers and clowns, as well as B.R., the festival's sequined mascot.

One of the biggest problems with having a festival downtown is parking. Meet Me Downtown has several off-site parking lots. A shuttle service will come from Boca Raton City Hall and the Community Center at Palmetto Park Road and Boca Raton Boulevard.